Cinnamon & Rubies // The Outsiders

six

The car ride was silent at first. It was only a five or so minute drive to Caroline's house, but it felt like forever. Caroline watched the passing houses as they drove, the street lights illuminating the sky alongside the moon and the stars.

"Ponyboy is a smart kid." She finally broke the silence.

"He is," Darry agreed. "But he's a terrible liar. You gonna tell me what really happened?"

Caroline smirked and settled back in the seat, glancing over at him. The sun had fully disappeared behind the horizon, the moon casting a soft glow upon the cabin of the truck. In the light, she could make out the outlines of his face. His strong jaw that seemed to always be clenched, the furrow of his brow. Caroline recalled a time when they were younger, watching him from two rows away in English class. He looked so much older now, as if the weight of the world was weighing down on his shoulders. She understood what Ponyboy meant earlier.

"I didn't overstep any boundaries, did I?" she asked softly and his eyes shot over to hers for a second before darting back to the road. He shook his head and she exhaled a sigh of relief.

"I can't speak for Ponyboy, but I think you should try an' talk to 'im. We all struggle sometimes an' he's just dealing with some things."

"Is he...is he alright?"

"He will be. Things take time. But reach out to him. Listen to 'im."

He seemed to think over what she told him and she gently informed him to take a right turn, as if she spoke any louder she would break any thoughts he had. They fell back into silence.

Darry pulled up in front of her house, remembering the address she told him when they first got into the car. Caroline started reaching for the handle when a sudden warmth bloomed across her skin. His hand was gently resting on her wrist, covering the bruises that she has received days earlier. His blue eyes seemed to shine under the moon's glare.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No, Caroline. Thank you," he refuted. Their eyes locked and suddenly, it felt like all the air was sucked out of her lungs. A tingling spread through her body and the world seemed to stop.

"Caroline!" her mother screeched from the door. They snapped out of their hold and she quickly opened the door, climbing out of the truck. "Thanks again."

Then, she was off. Caroline jogged up to the porch where her mother was standing. Helen Montgomery was pale in the face, her chocolate eyes wide and wild and her blonde hair flying every which way.

"Mama, I'm sorry, I was out with some...friends," Caroline apologized.

"No call? No note? Nothin'. You left nothin' an' you think that's fine?"

"Mama, please. I'm sorry. Let's jus' go inside before the neighbors come on out."

Suddenly, her face felt like it was on fire. Caroline gasped, her head snapping to the side. She raised her hand to touch the tender skin of her cheek, tears pricking her eyes. Helen was horrified by what she had done, her hand limply hanging in the air.

"Caroline..." Helen breathed.

"Don't. Do not." Caroline snapped. Her chest heaved as she held back a sob and she turned away from her mother.

"Caroline, I'm sorry. I was just so worried that you were hurt or worse."

"Don't!" the cinnamon haired woman practically snarled. "The only person who hurt me here was you. Don't you ever lay a hand on me again, you hear? You said we was safe here so don't you go on becomin' like him."

Caroline threw open the door to the house and marched right upstairs and to her room. She locked her bedroom door the second she was inside and sat on her bed. Bowing her head, she let out one sob and then fell silent. She couldn't cry. She wouldn't cry. She needed to be strong in order to get out.

After a long shift into the night, Caroline walked home, too exhausted to be scared. Her cinnamon hair was pulled out of her face by a ribbon and her shoes were hung around her neck. She skated slowly towards her house, her muscles screaming in protest. Her house was in the distance and a grateful sigh escaped her body as she felt the tension begin to leak out of her body. Slipping off her skates, she changed into her shoes so the remaining walk wouldn't hurt as much. Climbing up the stairs of the porch, she was about to unlock the door when a blood curdling scream ripped through her neighborhood.

Caroline dropped her keys and swore, her head darting from side to side to see where the scream came from. Whoever screamed had a mighty good pair of lungs because it kept going on. The neighbors lights started to flick on and people were peeking out of doors and windows.

"Caroline?" her mother called. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," the young woman exclaimed, unlocking the door and rushing in. She slammed the door shut and locked it, moving to stare out the blinds. A few minutes passed and sirens were sounding in the distance. The fuzz flew by the house and suddenly, just like that, it was silent.

Caroline laid her back against the door, letting out a loud exhale. Life in the East Side of Tulsa was always exciting and never safe, it seemed. Shaking off her skates, she dropped them by the door and headed for the kitchen where her mother was sitting, looking over the bills. Caroline didn't acknowledge her as she entered, just focused on grabbing a small dinner.

"Caroline, I said I was sorry," Helen sighed.

Her daughter simply ignored her, paying more attention to her sandwich. Helen stood, her chair scraping back on the floor, causing Caroline to flinch.

"Care..."

"I'm here for Teddy and Louise," she finally snapped. "Not for you. Not anymore. Once they're older, I'm outta here."

"Caroline Elizabeth, it was one time!" Helen protested.

"It always starts off as one. And then it becomes two. Then three. You even think about hittin' Teddy or Louise and I'll take them away. You dig?"

With that, she walked out of the kitchen.